FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Oct. 5, 2006
CONTACT: Gretchen Pressley, gretchen.m.pressley@ttu.edu
(806) 742-2136
Stephen Graham Jones, an assistant professor of English at Texas Tech University,
recently was declared a finalist of the Violet Crown Award in fiction for his fourth
published book, called “Bleed into Me: A Book of Stories.”
Jones’ book is comprised of 16 short stories, each offering an aspect of life as told
from the viewpoint of a young American Indian living in modern America. Most of the
stories are autobiographical, said Jones, a noted Blackfeet author, and they take
place in or around a reservation. “Bleed into Me” was published in September 2005
by the University of Nebraska Press.
The Violet Crown Award, sponsored by the writers League of Texas, honors outstanding
published books written by members, according to their Web site.
Authors submit their books into one of three categories: fiction, non-fiction, and
poetry. A series of judges then rates each category, said John Pipkin, the executive
director of the league. Only three finalists are chosen from each category from about
150 book entries per year.
“I don’t think we really have a certain criteria for judging,” said Pipkin. “But we
definitely look for originality, a unique or strong voice, and good storytelling.”
Jones will attend a panel discussion and award ceremony on Oct. 28 at the 2006 Texas
Book Festival in Austin, where he will also promote his latest book, “Demon Theory.”
Jones’s book also earned the 2005 Jesse Jones Award for Best Work of Fiction from
the Texas Institute of Letters earlier this summer.
[Editor’s note: If you would like to obtain a copy of “Bleed into Me: A Book of Stories”
for review, please contact the Office of Communications and Marketing at (806) 742-2136.]
For more information, go to www.stephengrahamjones.com.
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CONTACT: Stephen Graham Jones, assistant professor of English, in the Department of
English, (806) 742-2500 ext. 238; stephen.jones@ttu.edu.